Lollipops for college

Sean Collins Walsh

Posted:
Thursday, February 14, 2013, 11:57 AM

This Valentine's Day, Mayor Nutter is hoping to share a message of love - love of knowledge, that is.

To spread the word about the city's Financing College Campaign, groups are distributing 20,000 "I <3 College" lollipops today. The program aims to encourage Philly students to go to college and help them find financial means to do so.

See the release from Nutter's office below:

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Thursday, February 14, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CITY OF PHILADELPHIA TO KICK-OFF THE FINANCING COLLEGE CAMPAIGN

Campaign launched with the “I <3 College” lollipop giveaway.

Philadelphia, February 14, 2013 – The City of Philadelphia launched the Financing College Campaign, a city-wide effort to encourage Philadelphia students to apply to and enroll in college and to take advantage of programs and initiatives to help them finance their education. The kick-off event is the I <3 (heart) College lollipop giveaway co-sponsored by PhillyGoes2College and Graduate Philadelphia, which will distribute 20,000 lollipops across the City to promote higher education.

“Education is the key to everything we want to achieve in Philadelphia, from crime reduction to economic development. The Financing College Campaign connects Philadelphians with valuable information to help pursue higher education,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “By offering assistance in college enrollment and the financial aid process, we are positioning Philadelphians for better careers and brighter futures.”

The Financing College Campaign is a three phase initiative:

Professional development - a workshop series for high school counselors, college access professionals and financial aid administrators to help them advise families and students as they navigate the financial aid process;

FAFSA and scholarship application completion - workshops and events that assist prospective students in completing the FAFSA and other benefits forms and apply for scholarships with scholarship essay writing clinics; and

Over the last four years, the Financing College Campaign has improved FAFSA completion in Philadelphia by 10%.

Chief Education Officer Lori Shorr said, “Tomorrow’s economy will depend on students who have at least some college education and making sure you can finance college is very important. I am pleased that we have been able to increase Philadelphians’ access to federal money, but we can still do better. I urge people to take advantage of these resources.”

The Campaign also includes the opening of the Countdown to College Center, which will offer individualized services for families and students, including financial planning and income tax assistance and financial aid guidance. The Countdown to College Center is a collaborative effort between the Mayor’s Office of Education and the School District of Philadelphia’s Parent Program Office, located in the Parent Resource Center, 440 North Broad Street.

The next event, College Goal Saturday, is on February 23, 2013 at the Community College of Philadelphia. Co-hosted by CCP and Penn State University, College Goal Saturday is a financial aid program for all college-bound Philadelphians. It is an opportunity to meet with financial aid professionals and learn more about the financial aid process.

Additional information about enrolling in college and how to pay for it is available at www.phillygoes2college.com or by calling 215-686-0315.

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William Bender, a Drexel graduate who landed at the Daily News in 2007, has covered everything from South Philly mobsters to doomsday hucksters. He occasionally writes about local food trucks and always eats everything on his plate, whether it be a bloody rib eye or a corrupt politician. E-mail tips to benderw@phillynews.com Follow William on Twitter

David Gambacorta, has been a reporter with the Daily News since 2005, covering crime, police corruption and all of the other bizarre things that happen in Philadelphia. Now he’s covering the 2015 mayor’s race, because he enjoys a good circus just as much as the next guy. He’s always looking to get a cup of coffee. Send news tips and other musings on life to gambacd@phillynews.com Follow David on Twitter